The 250 Job Interview Questions You'll Most Likely Be Asked...And The Answers That Will Get You Hired!

1999·1.11 MB·english

by  Peter Veruki

THE

250 JOB

INTERVIEW

QUESTIONS
you’ll most likely be asked...
...and the answers that will get you hired!
THE

250 JOB

INTERVIEW

QUESTIONS
you’ll most likely be asked...
...and the answers that will get you hired!
by Peter Veruki
Adams Media Corporation
Avon, Massachusetts
Copyright ©1999, F+W Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may
not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for
brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Published by
Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-58062-117-1
ISBN 13: 978-1-58062-117-5

Printed in Canada.

T S R Q P O

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Veruki, Peter.
The top 250 job interview questions you’ll most likely be asked and the answers that will get
you hired / by Peter Veruki.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 1-58062-117-1
1. Employment interviewing. I. Title. II. Title: top two hundred fifty job interview questions
you’ll most likely be asked.
HF5549.5.I6V47 1999
650.14—dc21 98-50809
CIP

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to
the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged
in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert
assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
— From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the

American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.

For information, call 1-800-289-0963.
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION

PART ONE
BEFORE THE JOB INTERVIEW
1. Preparing for the Interview
Okay, so you’ve scheduled a job interview—or maybe even a few.
Now what? This chapter will show you six key ways to turn your job
interviews into job offers, including how to develop your personal
themes for the interview and how to research potential employers.

2. Setting the Right Tone
Here you’ll find all the tips you need for setting the right tone. Topics
include dressing for success, what to bring with you, the importance of
body language, overcoming nervousness, and presenting a professional
image.

3. Interview Strategies
This chapter will show you how to navigate an interview conversation.
It presents the differences between first and second interviews and the
strategies you should employ. You’ll also find typical questions that you
can ask them.

PART TWO
THE TOP 250 QUESTIONS
4. The Basic Interview Questions
This chapter presents two hundred of the most common interview
questions you must be prepared to answer. The questions are arranged
in an order consistent with the themes described in chapter 1. Most
interviews are based on these questions, or variations of the ones that
appear here and in chapter 5.

5. 50 Zingers!
Here you’ll learn how to handle killer interview questions with finesse,
including specific questions for first-time job seekers, experienced
professionals, career changers, and other special groups. There’s also a
special section on handling illegal interview questions.

PART THREE
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
6. Clinching the Deal
You flew through your interview no problem. Now what? This chapter
will show you how to follow-up on first interviews with sections on
writing a follow-up letter, handling rejection, and moving on to the
next step.

7. The Art of Negotiation
Here you’ll learn about the important factors to consider when
weighing an offer, including salary, benefits, work environment, and
more. This chapter also includes expert negotiating techniques to help
you get what you want.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to the following people whose generous time and expertise
made this book possible:

Virginia Alonzo, Javier Amador-Peña, Rebecca Jesperson Anthony,
Linda Armstrong, Linda Arslanian, MS, PT, Jennifer Barr, Elise
Bauman, Susan Beale, Edward Beaudoin, Julianne Bennett, Jeff Benson,
Bill Brands, Russell Brothers, Rob Bunnell, Michael J. Carriero,
Christopher Ciaschini, Elizabeth Clarke, Nicole Coady, Marisa Cohen,
Andrew J. Conn, Susan Crawford, Catherine Crowder, Bob Davis,
Dental Fill-ins, Laura DiBenedetti, John J. Diggins, Richard Dreier,
James B. Earley, Lisa Edenton, Katy Edmonson, Jeff Eisnaugle, Army
Ellis, Glen Fassinger, Joanne Franco, Jill Gabbe, Jan Gentry, Clifton
Gerring, Dov Goldman, Al Golub, Jeffrey M. Graeber, Jim Grobman,
Ron Grover, Steve Grune, Bob Hale, Pete Harper, Gary Hayden,
Margot T. Healy, RD, Catherine A. Hegan, Catherine Holsen, Denise
Humphrey, Beryl Israel, Wayne Jackson, Michelle Johnson, Chuck
Kelly, Keith Kleinsmith, J. Patrick Knuff, Linda Kosarin, Jennifer
Kove, Rowena R. Krum, Heather Kuty, David E. Lambert, Jr., Ann C.
Lee, Howard Levinson, CPP Pam Liflander, Mark A. Linnus, Andrew
Lobo, Michael G. McArdle, Mark McAuley, John McCauley, Nancy
McGovern, Terence McGovern, MSW, LICSW, Jim Mellarkey, Bruce
Menin, Arnold Most, Jennifer Most, Karen M. Nichols, Elizabeth
O’Brien, Carrie Oliver, Richard Oliver, Susan Oliver, Guy Pacitti,
Stefan Pagacik, Thomas V. Patton, Pam Perry, Joe Petrie, Jeff Phillips,
Rosalie Prosser, Jan Quiram, Rodney Ramsey, Gigi Ranno, Andy
Richardson, Gary E Richardson, Alan Ritchie, Kent Rodgers, Gerald
Roe, Bob Rogers, Thomas J. Rusin, David Ryback, Jeremy M. Sherber,
Donna Shervanian, Aryana Soebagjo, Judy Spinella, John Stagliano,
Joseph Steur, Deborah Story, Allan Tatel, Bob Teague, Jill Todd, Nancy
True, Catherine Tuttle, K. A. Vlahos, Mark Waldstein, David Williams,
Ron Wilson, Frank Winslow, David S. Wolff, Bill York, Diane V.
Yurkewicz, Reeve Zimmerman, Michael Zitomer, and Frank J. Zych, Jr.
Introduction
O
ur goal for this book is to provide you with 250 of the most
commonly asked interview questions. Some are tough. Some are easier.
Some are downright tricky. But all of them can make or break an
interview.
Answering a battery of interview questions can feel something like
running a gauntlet. A little preparation, though, and the assistance of
this book can help see you through, safe and sound. The interview
questions and answers included here should give you a sense of how
questions should be handled. They shouldn’t be used as the basis of
“canned” or scripted answers. Adapt these responses to your own
circumstances, and remember that the way you respond can be just as
important as what you actually say.
Keep in mind as you’re reading that behind every interview question
is a hiring manager’s concern. And even though you may not encounter
precisely the same questions that are included here, the concerns of the
hiring manager remain the same. Your job is to define each concern
and then alleviate it with a well-thought-out response. This book is
designed to help you do just that.
Additionally, we’ll show you how to land job interviews, find and
research potential employers, and develop your own themes for the
interview. We’ve included valuable advice for handling stress questions,
strategies for second and third interviews, and information on how to
negotiate job offers to get what you want. You’ll also find specific
questions geared toward those in special situations, including career
changers, recent graduates, and people re-entering the workforce.
There’s even a section on illegal questions!
So keep reading, and remember—you’re on your way to a fabulous
career!